Thousands pay respects to Layton in Toronto

Linda Nguyen, Postmedia News08.25.2011

Ruth Ann Onley (L), Lieutenant Governor David Onley (M) and Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (R) pay their respects at the casket of NDP leader Jack Layton at City Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Friday, August 26, 2011. Layton will be lying in repose at Toronto City Hall until his state funeral on Saturday.Tyler Anderson
/ National Post

Mourners sign a banner for the late NDP Opposition Leader Jack Layton outside City Hall in Toronto, Friday afternoon August 26, 2011.Aaron Lynett
/ National Post

Jack Layton's state funeral is set for Saturday in Toronto.Donald Weber
/ Getty Images

He is widely considered Canada's most impressive orator, a born statesman whose most casual utterances exude the quality of a well-polished speech. And...

TORONTO — After spending more than an hour thanking every dignitary who came to Toronto's City Hall Friday to pay their respects to Jack Layton, his family walked outside hand-in-hand to greet the hundreds of people who had been waiting patiently for hours to do the same.

Layton's wife, New Democrat MP Olivia Chow, and his two children, Mike and Sarah Layton, walked up to the metal barricades and began immediately speaking to mourners who were there to see the late NDP leader lay in repose inside City Hall.

Chow was stoic and at times smiled as she walked through the line, hugging, shaking hands and listening to the stories of how her husband had affected people's lives.

Layton died from cancer in his Toronto home early Monday. He was 61.

Victoria Mascall, quivered and loudly sobbed as she held Chow for several minutes while in line.

"He never looked down on us," the 66-year-old said. "(Jack) always had a smile and a handshake and a good word, and it's hard. It's hard because just four months ago, he was practically in his prime and now he's gone."

The grandmother of 15 said she remembers years ago she had called Layton at midnight because she had an issue with public housing officials and he "jumped on his bicycle and he would come to us."

She said Chow was the one who comforted her when they shared in each other's grief.

"She just said to me, just keep up the good spirit because love never dies," said Mascall. "It's a fact that doesn't die, you keep it in your heart and it'll be there all the time. You can't get rid of it."

Friday was the first time Toronto residents were able to visit Layton's casket. It arrived late Thursday after two days lying in state on Parliament Hill.

As of Friday evening, nearly 3,900 people had come to say goodbye to the likable leader. The lineup to get into City Hall circled the building, with people waiting more than two hours to get inside.

When inside, many of the mourners carrying bouquets of orange flowers — the party's official colour, they openly cried as they placed their hand on Layton's flag-draped casket. A few people took a moment to place their heads on the casket and sobbed, as Toronto police officers stood on ceremonial guard.

Layton's death has prompted an outpouring of support from Canadians. An estimated 11,000 people passed through the foyer of the House of Commons on Wednesday and Thursday to pay their respects.

His final words to Canadians, in a letter released after his death, were written in chalk around Ottawa and Toronto: "My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world."

A large memorial dedicated to Layton compiled by messages written in chalk outside City Hall in Nathan Phillips Square also continued to grow Friday.

"I have never seen anything like this," said Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who did a walk-through of the site for the first time. "It's very touching."

Ford, the conservative and often controversial mayor, fondly recalled the times he and Layton had spent together in municipal politics when both were councillors.

"He sat right beside me, taught me a lot," he said "(At his casket) I said a little prayer and thanked him for everything he taught me."

Layton was first elected to Toronto city council in 1982.

"The first day in council," recalled Ford. "(Layton told me) 'Don't take it personally, stand up, say what you believe in and sit down.' It's intimidating to come down here, (I was) 29 years old, a young guy. He said 'You and I aren't going to agree on a lot of things.' At the end of the day, we didn't agree on much."

Outside, the first person in line was former Canadian air force veteran Rick Harrison, dressed in uniform, who arrived at 5 a.m.

Harrison said he wanted to tell Layton he's thankful for all that he did for the country.

"I'm going to speak to him . . . and tell him that I'll continue to fight for what is right for all Canadians, just like he wanted us to."

Cancer survivor Zeny Bendicto said although she had never met Layton, she had to come and say goodbye.

"He didn't know me, but we had a connection of convictions," the 56-year-old Toronto resident said. "I'm not a political person, but I wanted to be here for Jack as a person. I wanted to let Olivia know that we're all here to thank him."

Layton will lie in repose at Toronto City Hall until 11 a.m. Saturday. A pipes and drums band, mounted police officers and a motorcade will then bring Layton's casket to nearby Roy Thomson Hall for his state funeral, which begins at 2 p.m.

Close family friend Rev. Brent Hawkes, who is leading the funeral service, said Layton would have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of condolences.

"I don't think anyone had an idea that the response would be as powerful and overwhelming as it is, but it struck a chord with Canadians and now people are afraid that it will go away in a few days, and that's the challenge," he said.

Hawkes, who had known Layton for more than 30 years, said his friend was "ready" to die.

"You know, Jack was really ready in the end. He wanted more time. But he knew that he lived a good life; he talked about that. He talked about how blessed he was," he said. "He also knew that it wasn't about him. He knew it was about the movement to make Canada a better place and the coalitions that were being built, while reaching past boundaries to do that."

Saturday's service will be multi-denominational and be a "celebration of life" rather than a "morbid funeral," Hawkes said.

Layton, who was a big fan of music, will also be remembered by a number of musical guests, including a church choir and Steven Page — formerly of the Canadian pop band the Barenaked Ladies.

Meanwhile, more details of Saturday's funeral have emerged.

Among Layton's pallbearers will be a veritable who's who of the NDP in Canada, including: former Manitoba NDP premier Gary Doer; former Saskatchewan NDP premier Roy Romanow; current Nova Scotia NDP Premier Darrell Dexter; Brad Lavigne, the party's national director; former federal NDP leaders Alexa McDonough and Ed Broadbent; Jamey Heath, a former party communications director; and Bob Gallagher, Layton's former chief of staff.

One-time Ontario NDP leader and former UN ambassador Stephen Lewis will give the English eulogy, while the federal NDP's senior press secretary, Karl Belanger, will deliver the French remarks.

Roy Thomson Hall has a capacity of 2,500, and will house 1,700 invited guests for the funeral. Prime Minister Stephen Harper also will be in attendance.

Lavigne, who is the NDP national director as well as a pall bearer, said the late parliamentarian's ashes will be spread at three different locations: one in Quebec and two in Toronto.

The Wyman United Church cemetery in Hudson, Que. Is where both his father and grandfather are buried. Along with his ashes a memorial tree will be planted in the cemetery.

Layton's ashes will be placed on Toronto Island, where they will be accompanied by another memorial tree. His remains will also be buried at the St. James cemetery in downtown Toronto.

Lavigne said no timeline had been set for the burials, but all three will take place in the "days following the ceremony" on Saturday.